Idaho State Police warn drivers to navigate holidays safely
Nationwide, AAA expects this Christmas travel season will be the busiest in 6 years.
The auto club predicts more than 93 million Americans will hit the road this weekend.
As drivers hit the road, Idaho State Police troopers are getting behind the wheel, too.
“If you don’t get there in one piece, then what’s the point of the trip?” said ISP Cpl. Pete Sibus.
Sibus said this weekend, troopers are keeping an eye out.
“One thing I’ve already had a little experience with is aggressive drivers,” he said.
For Sibus, forget candy canes and silver lanes aglow. Stressed out drivers are the ones making it look a lot like Christmas.
“Cause we’re all under a lot of stress, the time is getting short, you better have your shopping done, we get stressed out over that and then it takes over our driving as well,” said Sibus.
On Thursday at Grand Teton Mall in Idaho Falls, a driver struck a pedestrian. She was fine, but it’s a good reminder to be extra mindful during the busy Christmas crush.
“Obviously the second thing we’re looking for is impaired drivers,” said Sibus.
If you’ve hit the Eggnog a little hard this year, Sibus said ISP will be on the lookout this weekend for any funny business on the road. So, if your sleigh is weaving all over, you can bet you’ll end up on the naughty list.
“We want to get those people off the road before they change some body’s holiday,” said Sibus.
Some stuff just isn’t in a driver’s control — weather on Sunday morning resulted in several slide-off crashes on I-15.
But Sibus said if you find yourself in a sticky situation, keep sharp about how to get out of it.
“If you have have a choice of going onto the shoulder, hitting a guard rail or the wall, that’s so much better than going into that opposing traffic,” said Sibus.
Sibus said to give yourself a little extra time to get to your destination. He said driving just a bit under the speed limit isn’t frowned upon if it’s helping you to driver safer.
If you do spot an impaired driver, you’re urged to report them. It’s a simple call to *ISP.
